[iigs]

Non-contract prepaid phones are also subsidized in the US.

There have been billboards in Austin, among other places I'm sure, for: http://www.stopcellphonetrafficking.com/

I haven't considered the math yet, but I suspect that the rate of price decline cited in this article is too aggressive, and that truly subsidy free Android phones for $99 are some time away yet.

[amalcon]

I once washed my phone, and I didn't want to renew my contract.

The guy in the store suggested that the cheapest way for me to get a working phone was to buy a prepaid phone and swap the SIM card from the one I washed.